Veteran's Day salute to Mobile and its WWII generation
The Mobile Bay Veterans’ Day Commission has announced that the 2007 Mobile Bay Area Patriot of the Year is “Mobile, Alabama and its World War II Generation.”
The commission invites the public to join it on Veterans’ Day Monday, Nov. in recognizing the 2007 Mobile Bay Area Patriot of the Year: “Mobile, Alabama and its World War II Generation.”
There will be a downtown parade at 10 a.m., Veteran’s Day Lunch 12 noon at the Fort Whiting Amory, a special Patriotic Ceremony for all fourth graders 3 p.m. at the USS ALABAMA Battleship Park pavilion, and a patriotic concert by the Mobile Pops 7 p.m. at the pavilion.
Twenty one years ago, the Mobile Bay Veterans’ Day Commission established the “Patriot of the Year” award to recognize a person or persons that have made a substantial contribution to the national interest of the United States of such significance as to have a lasting impact. The award has gone to many well known military and political leaders and to various groups that have served with valor and distinction. All the past awards recognized either exemplary military service or extraordinary political advocates of our military.
Over the past twenty one years, various military groups from World War II have been honored four times including “all WWII Veterans” in 1995. However, this national saga is incomplete and the entire legacy not fully recognized. The recent World War II documentary by Ken Burns, “The War,” mesmerized its viewers with the awesome and often awful challenge this nation faced in WWII.
Of course, we are all gratified by the central role of our beloved Mobile, but the film vividly and intimately illustrated how our entire country had to come together at home and abroad to rise up and defeat our enemies. Moreover, this national crusade had a very personal character in every town and in every family in America; it took an entire generation in an incredible common cause to achieve victory.
Patriotism and pure American pride run deep in the South and certainly no deeper than in Alabama. In Mobile, our patriotism springs from our love of freedom and country, and our pride stems from our sense of duty and our collective record of service and sacrifice. Mobile has a long history of standing up and being counted when our country calls. Our citizens have always been willing to wear the nation’s cloth.
Please contact the Mobile Area Chamber Of Commerce (251-431-8621 or jpowers@mobilechamber.com) to make reservations for lunch or for more information.
